Evening Star Newspaper, March 20, 1931, Page 17

he #Fp WASHINGTON, D. C, * SECRECY SHROUDS CASREPORT WADE T0 UTLITES BODY ?indings on Ownership of D. C. Firm Are Outlined by W. A. Roberts. CONTINUANCE OF PROBE FOR DATA IS PLANNED Plan of Company Officials to Enter Insurance Business in Dis- trict Is Disclosed. Enveloped in secrecy, the report of William A. Roberts, assistant corpora- tion counsel, on the result of his; recent investigation in New York and | Boston into the ownership of the Wash- ington Gas Light Co. and its subsidi- arles, was transmitted tcday to the Public Utilittes Commission. A copy was sent to the Bureau of Investigation of the Department of Justice, which is assisting in the inquiry. Findings Closely Guarded. At the commission and also at the office of Corporation Counsel Willlam ‘W. Bride, it was explained that the findings of Mr. Roberts are being closely guarded because disclosure at this time might serve to defeat the purpose of the investigation. The in- quiry is yet incomplete, it was said, and the policy of silence will be main- tained until the Federal investigators finish their activities in connection with the gas situation. ‘The Roberts report is said to be ex- haustive and contains a number of ex- hibits describing -stock manipulations and the relationship between the Cen- tral Public Service Corporation and the Washington and suburban companies whicl recently took over control of the properties in Washington and near- E’mflhnd and Virginia. "The Central Corporation has denied it owned any stock of the Washington gas companies, insisting that its rela- tions with them consisted only of man- agement of the properties, Relation Probe Planned. Mr. Roberts covered in his report only the information developed during his trip to Boston and New York. He plans to continue his search for additional data by correspondence. One phase of the inquiry he plans to delve into more thoroughly is the con- nection between the Columbia Gas & Oil Co. the Public Service Engineering | Co. and the Patuxent Gas Co. The Washington Gas Co., it was said, cor tracted with the Columbia concern, a J. P. Morgan subsidiary, for the natural 3as now comung into Washington. The gas company now, it is understood at the commission, is buying the natural [ from the Patuxent company, which owned by the Central Public Service Corporation. The commission, how- ever, has never been furnished a copy of the natural gas contracts, although officials of the company promised to do so when the negotiations were closed last year. Another development n the gas sit- uation was @ disclosure that officials of the Washin Gas Light Co. had lanned to go into a private insurance ess. ‘Vhese plans werg suddenly abandoned, however. ¢l Insuror’s License Issued. Records in the office of Thomas M. Baldwin, jr., superintendent of insur. ance of the District, revealed that mml insurance broker's license was ed January 14 to the Commonwealth Co-operative Association, whose officers were listed as Brig. Gen. W. E. Horton, retired, as president; George B. Fraser, vice president; Aage Ewalidsen, secre- tary, and Hazel G. Thompson, assistant secretary and assistant treasurer. Gen. Horton is a member of the gas company’s legal staff, Mr. Fraser is a vice president of the company, Mr. Ewaldsen is director of the company’s sales department, and Miss Thompson is secretary to Mr, Fraser.. Headqual ters of the association had been estab- lished in room 608 Mills Building, the office of Mr. Fraser. Mr. Praser filed the application for the insurance broker’s license, and he had it canceled this morning, follow- ing publication of a story of the organi- gation of the association. The purpose of the association was not set forth in the application. Officials of the gas company said it had not written any insurance. LOUISIANA AVENUE ORDERED RENAMED| Small Section From Seventh to D| Streets Becomes Indiana Avenue. The District Commissioners yester- | day renamed a small section of Louisi- ana avenue, from Seventh to D streets, | Indlana avenue. The name Louisiana avenue is being held in reserve for a new street to be cut southwest from Union Station taq Peunsylvania avenue, as part of the new Plaza development plans. Most | of the old Louisiana avenue will be swallowed up by Federal buildings in the area south of Pennsylvania ave- nue. The recent act of Congress changing the name of Constitution avenue, also took away the name Louisiana avenue and left it to the Commissioners to find a new name for the short stretch of the old Louisiana avenue remaining. Indiana avenue now starts at New Jersey avenue and runs northwest to Judiciary square, with which it merges. ‘When it emerges on the other side of the District Supreme Court House, it turns southwest and becomes Indiana avenue once more. Deaths lieportéd. The following deaths have been reported to the Health Depariment i the iost 24 hours: ‘Jumes E. Patton. 83, 1604 Pa‘k road John F. Kelly. 12, th Wiiliam F, Hancock, ter teed al Pl ebecca Melners, 67. 3646 N. M. ave V. Poole, 50, Georzetown University *k 1o Miswissippi ADt. Hos- Hospital. Hugh M. Shackelford. 47. 2165 N. Y. ave. Ruby Overhoit, 33, Baneryency Hospital. fivs Bell. 30, Galiinser Howpital mily Blacha months, Children’s Hos- pital, Infant of es and Alice Longley, 19 days, 1737 M ave. ‘v fang of Even and May L Pellows, 12 > Hospjtal Do nie Howard, o, 4320 Sherlft 1 fartha Williams. 59, 1543 Bth st. Nellle' Wasnington, 51, Home for Aged d. nee. and Brunson, 23. Tubercul . elu . S B street to | Blossoms Due Apr ings and Public Parks, who also today declared that the first of mac Park would be in bloom al HORTICULTURIST EXAMINES BUDS IN POTOMAC PARK. (ARLES HENLOCK, horticulturist attached to the Office of Public Build- grows the flowers for th® White House, the Japanese cherry blosscms in Pot bout April 1. Mr. Henlock was photo- graphed as he examined the buds on the most advanced trees. —Star Staff Photo. MAIOR BUILDINGS [0 BE BEGUN SOON All Except Minor Jobs in 1 Municipal Program to Start by January 1. * With the exception of a few minor architectural jobs, all construction projects authorized in the 1932 appro- priation act are expected to be under way by January 1, 1932, according to a priority schedule of plans drawn up for the Municipal Architect’s office by Assistant Engineer Commissioner H. L. Robb. The minor architectural jobs will be held over until later so that the augmented force of draftsmen may | be retained until the end of the fiscal year. They are nearly all per diem | workers, who are paid out of the ap- propriations ‘fer- the various buildings | whose plans they draw. Already the drawng of plans for seven schools and the new fire engne house at Thirteenth and K streets is under way. The schools are the Bur- leith and Glover Park Schools, the ‘Woodridge School addition, Murch ad- tion, school at Fourteenth street and Kalmia road, eight-room school at Connecticut and Upton street, and the Key Scnool. Other construction jobs on the sched- ule, plans for which have not yet been started, are Douglas Simmons School addition, Harrison addition, Giddings Schocl, Brookland - Woodridge Junior High School, Macfarland Junior High School, Pal Junior High addition, Hine Junior High School, Towers School. Jefferson Junior High School, Randall Junior High School gymnasium, Ln-’ firmary ward at District Training Schocl and two cottage dormitories at the In- dustrial Home School for Colored Chil- dren. Other work to be done by the mu- nicipal architect’s office this year in- cludes drawings for a small mammals building at the Zoo and preliminary study and estimate for the Children’s | ‘Tuberculosis Sanatorium. There is also | a section of the office, working under | the personal direction of Municipal | Architect Albert L. Harris, devoting | itself exclusively to plans for the Mu- nicipal Center group of buildirgs. TRUCE IS CALLED IN TAXICAB STRIKE New Conference March 26 Agreed to by Union and Diamond Company. A week's truce in_thelr controversy over the declaration by Diamond taxi- cab owners for an open shop was agreed to yesterday at a conference of owners and officers of Drivers and Chauffeurs’ Union, No. 169, at the Department of Labor. A second meeting was set for | March 26 and a threatened walk-out | by the local was held up until that time. A delegation from the Central Labor Union sat in at yesterday's conference, arranged by Charles Bendhern of the | Labor Department’s conciliation service. | The delegation consisted of R. A. Dick- | son, Frank J. Coleman, Newfon A. James, Charles Young and Robert Leter. | Officers of the local threatened to order a walk-out of union drivers of Diamond cabs after Diamond cab | owners rejected a contract submitted | on behalf of the local which would require all chauffeurs to belong to the urion, whether owners of taxicabs or | merely drivers. | The owners contended this would force them to pay the dues of the drivers who worked for them, and at the ! same time to pay their personal dues | as members while acting as employers | for_other members. The differences were discussed in a friendly fashion at vesterday's two- | hour meeting, and “satisfactory” prog- | ress toward a scttlement was reported by Department of Labor representa- tives, MAIL THEFT HERE LAID T0 PRISONER Ex-Convict in New York Ad- mits Part in $800,000 ““Gold-Brick” Hold-up. Admitting complicity in the “gold- brick” mail robbery here on February 12, when two men held up a mail clerk and took three registered pouches con- taining $800,000 in mutilated currency for the Treasury from a truck at Union Station, Joseph McCann, 31-year-cld ex-convict, is held in New York. McCann's confession followed his ar- Test several days ago on & Sullivan law charge—possessing four guns. Authori- ties believe, according to an Associated Press dispatch, that he admitted the mail theft in order to escape the juris- diction of the New York courts and face the Pederal count in the belief that the sentence would be lighter. The penalty for armed mail robbery is 25 years. Points Out Vietim. ‘The former convict’s definite connec- tion with the case was established in reversal of the usual procedure when he identified his victim. Peter John- son, the mail clerk who was held-up, was placed in an improvised “line-up” in the district attorney's office in New York, and McCann readily picked him out as the man he had slugged. McCann's arrest is the first in con- nection with the robbery which was executed with speed and daring. John- son had just arrived here from New York at 1:55 a.m. and was escorting the truck, which was being wheeled by Jesse B. Swygert, colored postal employe, to the Post Office, when two men, bran- dishing iron pipes, rushed them at the west end of the Union Station con- course. Johnson had no time to draw his own gun, and was backing away from the men when felled. Swygert, meanwhile, bad slipped away to summon help, and the bandits, grabbing three pouches, raced outside of the station and entered an automobile in which it was reported a third man was waiting. Currency Found Later. A day later, the mutilated money was found in an alley near Fourteenth and T streets, where it had been discarded, while & block up the alley was found several boxes of shells, loaded with slugs, and piping like that used in the hold-up. The fact that the bandits had gotten a “gold brick” was discovered here as soon as Postal and Treasury authorities started checking. The truck contained 28 pouches of mutilated money being forwarded by the New York Federal Reserve Bank to the Treasury for destruction, and underneath these, about half-dozen small pouches which contained the ordinary run of registered mail consigned to private individuals. Postal Inspectors L. A. de Waard and S. W. Purdum of the Washington office, have been in New York several days working on the case. FREE TRANSFER ORDERED New Rule Would Benefit Northeast Car Line Patrons. ‘The Public Utilities Commission has issued an order to the Capital Trac- tion Co. compelling issuance of a free second transfer at Seventh street and | Florida avenue to patrons who have ridden to that point on a pay transfer from Eighth and H streets northeast. The same, ruling allows persons liv- ing in the extreme Northeast section |of the city, served by the Columbia line of the Washington Railway & Electric Co. to ride as far west as the Calvert Street Bridge or other points along_Connecticut avenue for one fare and 1 cent. Previously it was neces- sary to pay a second fare at Seventh and Florida avenue. It still is neces- sary, however, to change cars twice in order to make the trip. 2 midget automobile and the law was recorded on the books of No. 13 police precinct this mominf where an officer accused a Marine of driving 55 miles an_hour in one. Ruling that the car, especially when occupied by one large Marine and two sized friends was a serious menace %o life and limb of the motoring public from both a standpoint of maneuvera- bility and perceptibility, Judge Gus A. Schuldt assessed the maximum penalty of 25 days in jail as the driver was unable to scrape together & similar number of dollars. Policeman A. H. Poole, operating the The first serious local quarrel between | OFFICER GIVEN RUN FOR MONEY BY MIDGET MACHINE IN CHASE Marine Gets 25 Days for Speeding After Three Are Dis- lodged From Tiny Car. police car, reported to the judge a long |and exciting chase on Georgla avenue before finally he was able to “bully” the tiny machine to a curb. Due to the 2zigs and zags which the chased car was able to make without the slightest ef- fort, but which were difficult for his |larger car, Poole said that he thought | he_would be humiliatingly defeated. | Pvt. Perry Staughton of the Marine Barracks, the offending operator, also 1wu charged with failing to have & per- mit, but Judge Schuldt took his per- sonal bond nnuthaz charge. Poole told the magistrate the three ers fitted their car so well thlm Staughton to escort trouble him into the police stal il 1 | |ORDER OF SPEAKING IAlbel‘t M. Reising, traffic division, secre- tary. The following members were elected as representatives to Local No. 2 for WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION ening Star FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 1931. IN'ORATORY FINALS HERE DETERMINED Drawing of Lots Puts Winner in Washington Zone Second on Program. DATES ARE ALSO CHOSEN FOR COUNTY CONTESTS Leading Speaker in Star's Area to Get Summer Tour of Europe and Cash Prize. The speaking order for the finals In the Eighth Annual National Oratorical Contest on the Constitution, to be held in Constitution Hall on May 23, was announced today by Randolph Leigh, director general of the National and International Oratorical Contests. The order was determined by lot drawings made by Frank B. Noyes, president of The Washington Star Newspaper Co. and chairman of the Publishers’ Committee for the contest in the United States. 3 ‘The speaking order will be as fol-| ows: First speaker—Winner in the Mid- western Zone meeting. Second speaker—Winner in the East- ern_Zone meeting. Third speaker—Winner in the North- ern Zone meeting. Fourth speaker—Winner in the Cen- | tral Zone meeting. . Fifth speaker—Winner in the Pacific Zone meetin; | Sixth speaker—Wirmer in the North- eastern Zone meeting. Seventh speaker — Winner in the| Southern Zone meeting. | Zone Clearing Centers. { ‘These zoneg have the following clear- | ing centers: Kansas City, Mo., May 16; | ‘Washington, May New_York City,| May 15; Chicago, May 15; Los Angeles, May 15; Springfield, Mass, May 15, and Birmingham, May 15. * Last year the first speaker was from the Pacific Zone and the last from the Central Zone, The winner last year spoke third and the year before fifth. All seven of the National finalists will be given a Summer tour of Eu-| rope, beginning July 16, with all ex- penses paid. ‘The details for the final meeting in | the Washington, Virginia and Maryland division of the contest, sponsored by The Evening Star, to be held on May 8, will be announced shortly. The first county meeting in this division of the contest will be held on March 26, when the finals for Loudoun County, Va., will be held at Leesburg. Other county meetings will be held as follows: Fau- quier County, at Warrenton, April 7; Alexandria, April 8: Prince illiam County, at Brentsville, April 9; Fair- fax County, at Falls Church, April 10; | Arlington County, at Ballston, April 14. Maryland County Dates. Prince Georges County, Md., at Oxon | Hill, April 14; Charles County, La Plata, April 15; St. Marys County, Leonard- town, April 16; Montgomery County, Bethesda, April 17. 0 Private_and parochial school finals, National Museum auditorium, April 13. ‘The . winner in each of the county contests in The Washington Star's area will receive a gold medal. The winner in each of the 11 major divi- sions of The Star’s territory will re- ceive $100 in cash and the winner of the champlonship of this territory will receive an additional $200 in cash and 2 Summer tour of Europe, with all ex- penses paid, from New York back to New York, as well as the privilege of | participating in the national finals. The grand prize in the national finals is a handsome silver loving cup. The winner in the national finals of the United States will participate in the international finals, to be held at ‘Washington on October 24. The Inter- national Contest, which is now in its sixth year, is participated in by sec- ondary school students in the leading nations of North and South America and Europe. MAJ. TOTTEN TO AID ON NEWARK BUILDING Named Associate Architect of New Federal Structure in His Home State. Ma). George Oakley Totten, Jr. prominent Washington architect, be associated with William E. Lehman of Newark, N. J., as architects for the proposed Federal building to be erected at Newark, according to an announce- ment made by Ferry K. Heath, assis- tant Secretary of Treasury in charge of public buildings. Maj. Totton, well known here as the architect of a number of embassy buildings erected by Mrs. John B. Hen- derson on Sixteenth street, and other work, is a legal resident of New Jersey, it is explained in an article in the Newark News. ‘Wilson C. Ely of Newark is reported to have been under consideration for the appointment, but Representative Frederick R. Lehlbach, in whose dis- trict the post office building is to be erected, protested against any appoint- ment being made without his being consulted, the News states. Mr. Lehman is said to have been Mr. Lehlbach’s candidate for the archi- tectural post and Representative Franklin W. Fort, is reported to have suggested the appointment of Maj. Tot- ten. The fees for the work, it is been estimated in Newark, will run in ex- cess of $125,000. 6. A. WARREN ELECTED Heads Interior Department Branch of Federal Employes. George A. Warren of the solicitor’s office was elected president of the, In- terior Department branch of the Fed- eral Employes Union last night, with the coming year: Mr. Warren, John E. Deno, Joseph Norton, Mrs. Rosetta Plerce, J. F. Deeds, Mrs. M. Dorothy Dick, Mrs Lucy Shaw, E. R. Moose, David E. Thomas and J. A, Moss. Pupils to Give Play. MCLEAN, Va., March 20 (Special) — The senior class of the Pranklin Sher- man High School with the assistance of | a number of other pupils, will lgreuent‘ Family,” to- : a play “the Zander Gump morrow night in the school auditorium. HE men who stole this clothing could have gone into business with their loot but for the timely arrival of police, who have two men under arrest and are alleged to have obtained their confessions to robberies totaling upward of $20,000. man is Special Detective Patrick Lynch. POLICE HERE FIND L00T WORTH 5000 Recovery of Clothing Made After Two Suspects Admit | Series of Thefts. The confessions of two men, both col- | ored, arrested yesterday by polic: of the | first precinct, led to the recovery today | of about $6,000 worth of stolen wearing | apparel, and the solving of thefts from four women's apparel stores in th> past two years, involving almost $20,000 worth’ of clothing, mostly fur coats and dresses, police said. | William Ward and Charles Henry | ‘Washington, arrested in connection with the theft early yesterday from Gaffin's store, 920 G stret, of about $4,000 worth of clothing, made the confessions under police grilling last night. The confessions of the two included the theft of $2.000 in women's clothing from Bird's, 604 Eleventh street, on May 13, 1930; $282 from Mangel's Shop, 937 F street, on October 10, 1929; $6.848 from the store of H. J. Breslau, 1309 G street, on March 4, 1930; $5982 from the Gaffin store, on August 18, 1930, and about $3400 from the same store early Thursday morning. S old Most of Loot. The men said they had sent some of the clothing to New York, and that they had resold all but that found in their cache, 1006 Seventh street north- east, yesterday. The arrest of Washington came first, following a tip given police by Mrs.| Lulu Shea and her son, James Shea, both Government workers, who live in | an apartment above the Gaffin store. | Yesterday, on her way to work, Mrs. | Shea told police of the first precinct| she had seen a van backed up to the door of the store earlier in the morning and gave police an address printed on the side of the van. Detective James A. Mostyn of the first precinct arrested Washington near that address when | found carrying a number of coat hangers | over his arm. Under grilling, Washington, who gave his address as 604 L street, the address painted on the side of the van, admitted the theft and the name of his accom- plice, and Ward was arrested in_his well ‘furnished apartment at 318 New York avenue. Removed Door Panel. The clothes were found, neatly stack- ed and hung in an upstairs room at the Seventh street address, according to Detectives Mostyn and A. D. Mans- field, who are investigating the case. They were taken to headquarters. The Gaffin robbery was reported to have occurred between 6 and 7 o'clock yesterday morning. A panel was re- moved from the door and the coats and dresses were transferred to the van without _interference. Inspector W. S. Shelby, chief of the Detective Bureau, said full credit for the arrest and recovery should be-given De- tectives Mostyn and Mansfleld, young detectives at first precinct _station, whom he commended. The Detective Bureau, he said, was not called in until | investigation had been started. Marriage Licenses. lker, 34, :nd Dorothy Deane, 22; . William D Jarvis. | Efnest E. Baer, 22, and Helen L. Nolte, 21, | both of Richmond, Va.; Rev. Allan F. Poore. | Chatles B. Johnign, 22, and Hettie Robin: | son. 19 Rev. 'E. Gibbs, Stuart F. Hawkins, 31, Newport News, Va., and, Maude E. Lewls, 24, this city; Rev. C. i arnes. i Frederick R. Blaylock, 35, and Mary D. Rev. C. Palmer o . o more, Md.. an Dora E. Benner, 33, this city; Rev. Willlam A. Shelion. ‘Joo F. Smith. 40, and Matilda Carter, 29; Rev. Augustus Lewi | Harry A. Thomas, 39, and Margaret C. | Horner, 26; Rev. Edward J. Fontaine. beit E. Greéne. 27, and Elsie M. Graves; this_ city, 5 " ew London, Conn. v. Charlesi W. Corbett. Charles A. Brown, ir.. 22, and Beryl Man- chester, 27; Rev. John, C. Ball. ames H. Simms. 22. and Corethia E. Thomas, 24; Rev. John Bailey. 5 A.' Jenkins. 32, and Maud E. Goff, 21 Rev. Isagc Wright. | Clifford T, Tapscott, 24, and Alice M. Draper, 21; Rev. Henry' W. Tolson. Births Reported. _‘The following births have been reported to the Health Department in the last 24 hours: Willlam E. and Mary E. Bakersmith, girl. Paul L. and Lula M. Holt, girl. John F. and Katherine Hatton, girl. Louls ‘T. and Esther Hirst, giri Louis P and Margaret Muy. girl. James W. and E. O'Connor, girl. Ernest and Martie Davis, girl. Kenneth P. and Grace B. Craft, girl. Otho and SBusan Wise, girl. Edwin A, unfl"Duromy Balley, girl. a and | ardson. boy. Mary A. Kain, boy. Herbert 'E. and Edith Smith, Foy. John J_ and Edna Tancill, boy. Garland and Margaret R. Willie ‘and Vi . boy. Rillek e Aid Alberia’ dhavpe. gtrl, am H. rta’ Sharpe. glrl. Rudolph and Laura_Powell, girl. girl. F. and Blanche Gladden, ‘girl. Walter ‘and Willie B, Kitchen, girl. Joseph L. and Edith M. Young. hoy. James G Maggle Ford, boy. Randolphi and Frances McCall, boy, Adran and Georgla Marchall, hoy! nd Edna Beasie$, boy. George and Virginia Shields, boy, Detective Sergt. J. B. Billman of headquarters Is kneeling before a rack of clothing store loot. With Bill- —Star Staff Photo. BLAST THEATER WALLS AWAY IN FINAL CLEAN-UP Workmen Find Poli’s Structure Re- quires Dynamite to Bring Down Material. Dynamite continued to blast away today at the fast crumbling walls of Poli's Theater. With only part of the shell remain- ing, some of these last heavy walls and reinforced steel concrete slabs vielded only to dynamite. Workmen continue to clear up the debris, The first dynamite was used when the huge proscenium arch wall was first undermined with a light shot cf the explosive and then pulled over, with a resounding crash, several days ago. OFFICIALS CONFER ON BUDGET TERMS Ballou, Donovan and Bailey to Effect Reformation of D. C. Phraseology. Dr. Frank W. Ballou, superintendent of schools, and Maj. Daniel J. Dono- ven, auditor of the District of Colum- bia, met today with F. J. Bailey, as- sistant director of the budget, in the latter’s office in the Treasury Depart- ment, to effect “a reformation of the budget items.” It was explained at the Franklin Administration Building that they hope to frame new terms and more concise phraseology which would elimi- nate much of the excessive detail now carried in the language of the District budget as it is sent through the Dis- trict Commissioners, the Budget Bureau and Congress. It was explained that the task prob- ably will be a lengthy one, requiring | several conferences between the officers concerned. It is hoped in public school circles that the new terms will be de- cided upon, however, by a week from today, when the Finance Committee of the Board of Education is scheduled to meet to consider requests made Monday night at the joint conference of school officials and citizens’ representatives for school-building improvements. It will be at that meeting, to be held at 10:30 a.m. that the first work of framing the school estimates for the 1933 budget will be undertaken. If the new terms under the “reformation” are in force by that time it is believed the process will be facilitated. In undertaking to simplify budget terms, Federal and municipal authorities are of the opinion that the confusion and delays attended upon consideration of the budget last year will be eliminated to a great extent. THIEF TAKES WIGS Connecticut Avenue Shop Loses Only Display Coiffures. Two women's Wi snatched from wax heads on display in the show win- dow, constituted the sole loot of bur- glars who broke into the hairdressing establishment of Emile Co., Inc, 1221 Connecticut avenue, some - time last night. The wigs were valued at $50 apiece. Access to the store was gained by smashing a glass door at the entrance, | just inside a vetibule which let in off the Connecticut avenue sidewalk. Georges Bolchert, manager of the store, was convinced nothing was taken beside the pair of coiffure wigs, he was taking stock today to determine definitely whether anything else was missing. BOYS TO CLEAN STREETS Scouts to Aid A. A. A. in Removing ‘Wrecked Automobiles. First steps toward a Spring cleaning of the District’s streets and _nearby highways, with a view to removing from them discarded and wrecked automo- biles, are to be taken by the Boy Scouts in co-operation with the American Au- tomobile Association, under plans an- nounced today by the 1931 Clean Up Campaign Committee. The Boy Scouts are to spend a month or more in locating the wrecks, which later are to be removed with trucks of- fered by the American Automobile As- sociation. First, however, after finding a wrecked auto an effort is to be made to locate the owner of i, With a view to obtaining his co-operation for its re- moval. Garden Meeting Tomorrow. FAIRFAX, Va, March 20 (Special). —County Agent H. B. Darr has called a meeting of wll those interested in Jjoining the yard and garden improve- ment contest, to be held in the Court House tomorrow at 2 o'clock. RETURN OF NOTES T0 OWNERS ASKED ; Trustees of Rheem Firm Seek | to Give Back Securities Held in Vaults. The newly-elected trustees of the | bankrupt mortgage house of Swartzell, | Rheem & Hensey today asked the Dis- | trict Supreme, Court for permission to | return to the owners all mortgage notes and other securities left for safe- keeping in the vaults of the bankrupt firm. Hearing on the motion, filed by Henry P. Blair, Julius I. Peyser and M. M. Doyle, was set for Friday at 1:30 p.m. by Justice Jesse C. Adkins. Owners Demand Return. In their petition the trustees polnted out that “demands have been made by the owners of the notes, even though the deeds of trust securing them are purported to have been released, that their notes should be returned to them. Others, it was said, whose interests are adverse, have notified the trustees not to surrender notes where the deeds of trust appear of record to have been released to the persons who claim own- ership of the trusts. Continuing, the petition states: “Your trustees believe that all of the notes, safe deposit boxes and envelopes which are in the vaults of the firm and which belong to the customers of the firm should be returned to them. Your trustees believe that the notes where the deeds of trust do not appear to have been released should be returned to the customers who make proper proof of ownership in the same physical con- dition in which the are now. Would Make Notation. “In regard to those notes as to which vhe deeds of trust securing them are purported to have been released should be returned to the customer on proper proof of ownership, with an indorsement by the trustees as follows: ““The deed of trust by which this note is secured appears to have been re- leased according to the land records of the District of Columbia.’” Questioning by the creditors of Ed- mund D. Rheem, vice president of the bankrupt company, has been set for 10:30 o'clock tomorrow in District Su- preme Court. There were indications, however, that the meeting tomorrow may be devoted to the mere preparation of the questions, and that the actual quiz of Rheem will be deferred. i g i Two Plays to Be Presented. Two one-act plays will be presented next Thursday at an informal dinner of Syracuse University graduates in the Burlington Hotel. The cast will include Mrs. A. T. Davenport, Mrs. L. W. Currier, Mrs, Lanier Gray, Mrs. I. H. Archer, Mrs. Claude C. Bell and Mrs. Leon J. Cochrane. “Fourteen,” one of the offerings, was a prize winner in a Drama Guild tournament. The other presentation will be entitled “Widows.” CITY NEWS IN BRIEF. TODAY. Meeting, Glover Park Citizens' Asso- ciation, Industrial Home School, Wis- consin avenue and Thirty-seventh street, 8 p.m. Oyster supper, St. Marks Parish Hall, Third and A streets southeast, 5 to 7 p.m. Dance, tional Sojourners, Yard, 9 pm. Dance, Clan and Lady McClellan , No. 75, Daughters of Scotia, Pythian Temple, 1012 Ninth street, § pm. Concert, George Washington Univer- sity Glee Club, United Brethren Church, North Capitol and R streets, 8 p.m. Lecture, Edmund H, Whitlock, Depart- ment of Interior auditorium, 8 p.m. Card party, St. John’s Chapter, No. 18, O. E. S., 2146 Georgia avenue, 8 pm. Meeting, Cushing Auxiliary, Pythian Temple, 1012 Ninth street, 8 p.m. Inspection tour, Ladies’ Auxiliary of the District of Columbia Pire Depart- ment, 2146 Georgia avenue, 8 p.m. Benefit card party, 530 Seventh street southeast, 8:30 p.m. Dance, Gloom Dispellers’ Club, Ar- Sldll, Fourteenth street and Park road, pm. Washington Chapter, Na- Washington Navy Tea, Pelta Delta Del | croft place, Sunday, 4 to 6 Lungheon, Women's City Jacksen place, tomorrow, 1 p. PAGE B—1 IAIRMAIL RUSHING CONFESSION DATA INKIRK MURDER Police to Seek Indictment of Man Admitting Killing if Proof Warrants. PLEA FOR EXTRADITION OF TUCKER TO FOLLOW Los Angeles Officials Will Be As! ed to Send Prisoner Here for Trial. An identification expected to verify the confession of George Plerce Tucker to the murder of Miss Emma Kirk here five years ago was speeding by airmail across the continent from Los Angeles today as police moved to take the case before the grand jury and demand ‘Tucker’s extradition from California. It has been established to the satis- faction of authorities that a George Plerce Tucker arrested in Colorado on suspicion during November of 1926 was the same who left a thumb-print on the eyeglasses of the 68-year-old spinster when she was strangled in her um- brella shop at 819 R street January 23, 1926. This man answers the general de- scription of the suspect under arrest in Los Angeles. Fingerprint classifications tel phed yesterday by California po- lice were found to check with the two sets of impression on record here. Evidence Due Tomorrow. Tucker’s identification record is ex- pected to reach police headquarters here not later than tomorrow , and a comparison with existing impressions will determine if the case is to be taken before the grand jury. The 32-year-old suspect said he killed the woman, whom he never had seen before, during a mental lapse which followed protracted . He ex- plained that he was a racing driver and had informed him after a crash in Oregon that injuries he re- ceived about the head probably would upset his reason. In his cell in the Los Angeles jall Tucker said he had been a cigar sales- man in Washington and lived at the Arlington Hotel. He was wandering the streets, the prisoner sald, at a late hour when he noticed & light in a window and knocked on the door. Body Found Bound. ‘The body was found with a shawl looped aboyt the nose and mouth and with the hands and feet trussed with twine. Police said robbery was not the motive as something over $15 was found in the death room. A George Plerce Tucker, believed to be the same man under arrest in Los Angeles, was picked up on the streets here July 31, 1926, by police of No. 1 precinct on a charge of intoxication. He was fined $10 on this charge. Police explained that fingerprint rec- ords are not kept of lesser offenders. When Tucker again was arrested in Denver during November of the same year, cards with his fingerprint - "1'35 were mailed out to the principal citles. Card Filed Away Here. Seeking to learn how the card got into local files without a comparison with impressions of men wanted here, it was brought out that the depart- ment's identification expert, Sergt. Fred Sandberg, was attending the Hall- Mills murder trial to testify as a finger- p'!}-‘fi expert. e card, it was learned, was filed during Sandberg's absence, and no oc- casion arose to refer to it afterward. For weeks after the murder Sandberg compared the print taken from the !gemc]u with_thousands of others in the records at headquarters. It was so impressed on his mind, he said, that he would recognize a fingerprint of similar character on sight. Inspector Shelby said that if Tucker's confession can be corroborated, he will Trequest the United States district attor- el or The prisoner’s sefuen kT bu or the ner’s r D‘;‘h"“‘- P to the ould Tucker fight extradition, the district attorney 'fl'fll be asked to rep- me:t the Washington Police Depart- ms en! ‘Tucker told Los Angeles He explained that his wife and a year- old baby were living in San Francisco, POLICE CAR UPSET TO AVOID ACCIDENT Officer Hurt as He Swerves Car to Miss Pedestrian—Boy Hit Elsewhere. Risking his own life to avoid striking a pedestrian with his automobile, Police~ man James Oppert of the fourteenth precinct last night sustained serious in- Juries when his machine turned over at Benning road and Kenilworth avenue northeast, Oppert was driving here from his home in Tuxedo, Md., when an uniden- tifled man stepped in front of his car at the intersection. He swerved sharply to avoid striking the man and his car turned over. He was treated at Emer- gency Hospital for severe shock, a blao‘l;en !mh , cuts and bruises, 0 other persons were injured - Iypin other accidents. ; s 'ourteen-year-old Arthur 1314 - Sixth street southwefln,.lfl knocked down at Ninth and E streets by a motor truck driven by Abraham Golden, 600 Sixth street southwest. He went home after receiving first aid at mrzency Hospital for bruises on his Alfred Jenifer, colored, 10 years old, 1316 South Capitol street, ran llllollyt the side of the automobile of F. D. ‘Thomas, 312 Virginia avenue southeast, on South Capitol street near his home Was. bruised abbut the. lege. ane bod was about the and body. ghy:la;;m at Providence Hospital ll"e rst aid. POLICE FILM BLOCKED Pratt Considers Movie of Fake Rum Chase Dangerous. Washington police have lost an op- portunity to become movie actors un- der a ruling of Mej. Henry G. Pratt, superintendent. ¢ Maj. Pratt disclosed he had rejected a proposal advanced by a newsreel company that a fake liquor chase be staged for a talkie. He declared the trains would be jeopard- ized, use of a smoke-screen would con- stitute a felony and the film would be poor advertising for Washington.